Sanderson is the county seat and the only town of size in Terrell County, sitting on U.S. Route 90 at about 2,788 feet. Much of its housing and civic building dates from the railroad boom era, and some homes were rebuilt or repaired after the June 1965 flash flood along Sanderson Creek.
That mix of early-20th-century houses, ranch-style homes and manufactured homes means stairs show up in different places: an interior staircase in an older house, a set of entry steps on a raised home, or a porch that has to be climbed every day. This page walks through what that means for a stair lift and where to look for help paying for one.
The 1906 Terrell County Courthouse, the 1931 Art Deco Sanderson High School and the former Masonic lodge show the kind of building stock this town grew from. Many homes from that era were built before modern accessibility standards, so stairways can be narrow or steep.
A straight staircase is usually the simplest and least costly lift to install. If the stairs turn, have a landing, or wrap around a corner, a curved lift built to fit that staircase is the usual answer. We measure the width, the angle and the top and bottom landings before recommending either one.
Homes that were rebuilt or repaired after 1965 may have newer stairs than the rest of the house. It is worth having the staircase itself checked rather than assuming it matches the age of the home.
Single-family, detached and ranch-style homes make up most of the housing here, and many of them keep living space on one level. The trouble spot is often the entry: steps up to a porch or front door.
Manufactured homes usually sit up off the ground, so getting in and out means climbing steps every time. For these homes an outdoor stair lift or a vertical platform lift at the entry can make more sense than anything inside.
Outdoor lifts in far West Texas have to handle sun, heat and dust on the semiarid steppe. Ask about weather covers and outdoor-rated parts before you choose a model.
Terrell County has about 678 residents, and 30.8% are 65 or older. With 89.0% of homes owner-occupied, most older residents are staying in houses they own, which is where a stair lift fits best.
That is a reason to check VA benefits early, though as the next section explains, not every VA program pays for a stair lift.
Sanderson is one of the most remote and sparsely populated county seats in Texas, and the county covers about 2,358 square miles. That lengthens travel time and limits how many local contractors install accessibility equipment.
Plan ahead instead of waiting for a fall or a hospital discharge. Getting measurements, paperwork and any program approvals lined up early keeps the wait shorter once the need is urgent.
The one program here that the source says can pay toward a stair lift is STAR+PLUS, the Texas Medicaid waiver. The source notes market installation costs of $2,900-$8,000 for a straight lift and as much as $25,000 for a curved one, with the Medicaid share decided case by case.
STAR+PLUS has a statewide waitlist placed by application date, so signing up before you need the lift matters. The VA HISA grant does not cover stair glides, and other local programs do not list stair lifts, so call them and ask directly.
Other statewide programs to ask about include the Amy Young Barrier Removal Program (AYBR) and the Community Living Assistance and Support Services (CLASS) Waiver. The Permian Basin AAA at 2514 Kermit Highway, Odessa, 79764, (432) 563-1061, is a good first call to sort out what is available.
A Texas Medicaid waiver for residents 21 and older who would otherwise need nursing-facility care; a stair lift can qualify as a minor home modification with a doctor's letter of medical necessity. Join the statewide interest list at YourTexasBenefits.com or call (877) 438-5658.
Serves adults 60 and older and family caregivers in Terrell County, mainly with demand/response transportation; stair lifts and home modifications are not listed. Call (432) 563-1061 to ask what in-home accessibility help is currently available.
Loans up to $40,000 at 1% and grants up to $10,000 for very-low-income rural homeowners, with grants limited to those 62 and older who cannot repay a loan. Stair lifts are not listed, so ask the USDA office at (432) 336-7585 whether one would qualify.
A VA grant of up to $6,800 or $2,000 for medically necessary fixed alterations such as entrance ramps and accessible bathrooms. It does not cover stair lifts; stair glides are explicitly excluded.
VA grants for veterans with specific severe service-connected disabilities to buy, build or adapt a home, with SAH up to $126,526 and SHA up to $25,350 (FY2026). Stair lifts are not listed by name; the Texas Veterans Commission Kerrville Office at (830) 792-2553 can help with VA claims.
A volunteer home repair program for elderly and disabled homeowners on fixed incomes; stair lifts are not listed. Call (432) 683-4177 to confirm whether they currently serve Terrell County.
A volunteer home repair program for elderly and disabled homeowners on fixed incomes; stair lifts are not listed. Call (432) 368-9022 to confirm Terrell County coverage.
Weatherizes homes for low-income households when funding is available; stair lifts and accessibility work are not listed. Call (806) 872-8354 to check whether Terrell County is served.
Older adults
2514 Kermit Highway, Odessa, 79764
Veterans
3600 Memorial Blvd., Kerrville, 78028
It can, through the STAR+PLUS HCBS waiver, when the lift helps someone stay at home instead of moving to a nursing facility. You need to be 21 or older, meet income and asset limits, provide a doctor's letter, and join the statewide interest list at (877) 438-5658.
There is a statewide waitlist, and placement is based on the date you apply. Getting on the list early means less waiting later.
No. The VA fact sheet excludes stair glides and porch lifts. HISA pays for fixed changes like entrance ramps and accessible bathrooms, which may still help with the rest of the home.
The Area Agency on Aging of the Permian Basin serves Terrell County through its senior center and can be reached at (432) 563-1061. It does not list stair lifts, but it is the place to ask what home help is currently offered.
Often not. When the steps are outside, an outdoor stair lift or a platform lift at the entry is usually the better fit, and it should be rated for heat, sun and dust.
Many older homes in Sanderson were built before modern accessibility standards, so we measure first. Straight stairs are the simplest, and stairs with turns or landings usually need a curved lift.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
